http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/12/video-extreme-flying-747-8-style/

My sister is working on this. I saw the 747-8 and went inside it last night. Not a whole lot to see. Feels like just another plane to me. The link has an interesting video where they show them actually dragging the tail of the plane on the runway during one of their tests.

Wow - that's cool! 

Lower takeoff speed = higher angle of attack to produce the same lift.

I like the GE engines on that thing.

The tests that they put those planes through are amazing!


Crosswind Landing Testing

Quote from: Monster Dave on January 10, 2011, 09:14:19 AM
The tests that they put those planes through are amazing!


Crosswind Landing Testing

I think they filmed that last plane landing this december on long island.

It takes a lot to make me concerned about my continued wellbeing, but that flight had me worried.

@ OP - WOW that's awesome!

Quote from: Rameses on January 10, 2011, 10:25:09 AM


I think they filmed that last plane landing this december on long island.

It takes a lot to make me concerned about my continued wellbeing, but that flight had me worried.

Reminds me of a landing into Lansing MI over 30 years ago.

I was watching out the window and the runway was straight ahead.

It was terrifying.

stuntas 

Quote from: humorless dp on January 11, 2011, 01:43:38 PM
Reminds me of a landing into Lansing MI over 30 years ago.

I was watching out the window and the runway was straight ahead.

It was terrifying.

Had one like that coming into Burlington, VT in the winter in the mid-80s, with the plane crabbing hard into a really volatile crosswind, with lots of small-cell up & downdrafts. The most memorable part was when we hit the runway and rolled to a stop, a hundred or so people finally exhaled. The woman next to me used her pent-up breath to claim loudly that she was going to write a letter to the airline complaining about the pilot, as that was the WORST landing EVER!

At that point, fortunately, her life was the only one that seemed in any particular danger.

Quote from: triangleforge on January 11, 2011, 01:59:10 PM
Had one like that coming into Burlington, VT in the winter in the mid-80s, with the plane crabbing hard into a really volatile crosswind, with lots of small-cell up & downdrafts. The most memorable part was when we hit the runway and rolled to a stop, a hundred or so people finally exhaled. The woman next to me used her pent-up breath to claim loudly that she was going to write a letter to the airline complaining about the pilot, as that was the WORST landing EVER!

At that point, fortunately, her life was the only one that seemed in any particular danger.

I was on a Gufstream 4 in the late 90's that did one like that coming into the Azores. I think they said the crosswinds were at 47 knots with gusts. It was a pretty smooth landing and everybody gave applause when it was over.

Dumb question: do the rear wheels turn at all, so that they can land tracking straight while the plane is angled?

Im out on a limb here, but methinks no.

Didn't look like it when I was standing there in person.

Quote from: Monsterlover on January 11, 2011, 05:40:28 PM
Im out on a limb here, but methinks no.

You are correct.

If you watch closely you can see the nose kind of snap to the runway after touchdown.

Then the pilot lets the nose wheels touch.

You think they increase/decrease thrust on one side to help steer it in (like on a boat?)